"Arena" Rating: 3 Planets
by Frederic Brown  
pub. 1944   
collected in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. I  
Preview Background
Data 		Navigation
Guide		 Further
Exploration
Preview
On the eve of an epic battle for the solar system between an Earth armada and an alien Outsider fleet the human Carson is designated by a superior entity to represent Earth agains an Outsider in a duel of champions to settle which race will survive.

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Background Data
Atom BulletThis story was televised as "Arena," an episode of Star Trek, the original series.

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Navigation Guide
Atom BulletCharacterize Carson.

Atom BulletCharacterize the Outsider.
Atom Bullet Compare the combatants. Are they evenly matched?
Atom BulletIs it fair to cause a war to be decided based on the outcome of a fight between two individuals?
Atom BulletIs it fair to destroy an entire fleet because an individual loses a fight?
Atom BulletWhat right does the superior entity have to intervene between these two warring fleets?

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Further Exploration
Atom BulletThe superior entity obviously must have other means by which to deal with these warring fleets. What other actions could this entity have taken to stop the war?
Atom BulletWatch the "Arena" episode of classic Star Trek. How has the story been altered? Why has the story been altered in this particular way?
Atom BulletNote that this story was written at the height of World War II. What connections do you see between this story and current events of the time?

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© 2002 Agatha Taormina
Last Revised: January 4, 2005